Hike: Devil’s Peak

Posted on May 7, 2017

Devil’s Peak Hike

Cape Town has one of the most distinct and unique skylines in the world. Table Mountain is its centerpiece with Devil’s Peak to the left and Lion’s Head to the right. We decided it was finally time that I hiked Devil’s Peak considering we had hit our 6-month mark living in Cape Town!

Best time to climb Devil’s Peak

We chose to climb on a Sunday so that we were not constrained for time and could take as many breaks/photo ops as possible. It was a beautiful, cloudless, windless, and hot day for a hike, which allowed us to get the best views. Note that it does get extremely windy at the top and it is best to hike Devil’s Peak on a calm day.

How to get to Devil’s Peak

The Devil’s Peak hike starts along the same road that the Table Mountain cable car station on Tafelberg Road. It is about a five-minute drive from the cable car station with parking along the road. The sign is somewhat difficult to see, so make sure you are driving slow and looking to your right to see the green sign. The best part about this hike is it’s completely free of cost!

The Hike itself

Once you enter the path from Tafelberg road, the first quarter of the hike is switchback boulder stairs. This is not a hard section of the climb because the switchbacks along for a steady incline and elevation increase. This is a good introduction to the hike and warms up your legs nicely!

The second quarter of the hike is relatively flat. You begin to walk towards the actual peak of Devil’s Peak. This will bring you closer to the visible neck between Devil’s Peak and Table Mountain. There are a few signs at the end of this section that have different directions depending on what path you would like to take. Take the “recommended” route up!

The third quarter is by far the most challenging portion. This is a steep section that will work your calves! There are no stairs to step on which makes this part more difficult. This part of the trail is sand and small rocks that are susceptible to sliding. Be careful on this section going down the mountain- I fell back several times as I slide down on my butt! The best thing to keep in mind is that at the end of this portion, you really begin to see the beautiful views!

The last quarter is a mixture of steep and flat parts. This will bring you up to the actual peak. I was surprised at how overgrown this portion was. The trail was being taken over by plants (most with sharp needles) so beware of wearing shorts! By this point in the hike, you will probably just want to be at the top- but the view will be worth all of the effort!

The Summit of Devil’s Peak

At the top, there are clear views of both the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean. Table Mountain and Lion’s Head are also in clear view. You are able to see far up the northern coast and all of the southern suburbs. We argue that this is the best view in Cape Town to see the sprawling city. Though Table Mountain is higher, because it is flat, it is hard to get a full 360 degree view. Lion’s Head provides a great portrait of Camp’s Bay, the 12 Apostles, and the Atlantic Seaboard. But Devil’s Peak is special because all of Cape Town is visible from the actual peak. At this point, it is clear just how much higher Devil’s Peak is than Lion’s Head.

In total, with many stops along the way, going up took us exactly two hours and coming down took an hour and a half.

We wholeheartedly recommend the Devil’s Peak hike on a clear day because it makes you appreciate this beautiful city!